Ratchet-and-pawl-actuating mechanism.



P. L. o. WADSWORTH. BATOHET AND PAWL AGTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1909.

925,855. Patented June 22.1909.

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RATOHET AND PAWL AGTUATING MECHANISM.

AP PI;IOATION FILED TAILS, 1909.

Patented June 22. 1909.

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P. L. 0. WADSWORTH. RATOHET AND PAWL AO'IUATING MECHANISM. APPLICATIONFILED JAN. 6, 1909.

925,855 Patented June 22, 1909.

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UNITE FRAN K L. O. WADSWO RlII, OF S E W IOK LEY, PENN SYLVAN IA.-

RATCHE T-AND -PAWL-AC TUATING ME CHANISIVI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Application filed January 6, 1909. Serial No. 470,990.

To all whom it "may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. O. l/Vnns- WORTH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sewicklcy, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Itatchet-and-Pawl-Actu ating Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the acconipanying drawing.

l\ y invention consists of an improvement in mechanism for actuating theratchet and pawl mechanism of a lifting jack and similar mechanicalconstructions.

The object of the improvement is to provide simple, reliable andpositively acting means for automatically controlling the engagement anddisengagement of the pawls used in operating, controlling and holdingthe ratchet or ratchet wheel of a mechanical structure, as a ack of thetype shown in the drawings, the invention being also applicable to theoperation, control, and holding of ratchet bars, wheels, escapements,etc., of any similar apparatus wherein motion in either direction isdesired, usually in opposition to or in the same direction with acontinuously acting force. I accomplish this object by providing ayielding or elastic connection between a lurality of pawls actingrespectively as the iftin g pawl and retaining or olding pawl, suchyielding connection being so constructed and combined with the otherportions of the mechanism that it is alternately subject to a tensionaland expansive action and a compressional and contractive actionrespectively whereby the proper relative movement of each pawl and ofits attached parts is secured and controlled.

The invention also consists in certain novel combinations andarrangement of parts of ratchet and pawl mechanisms as shall behereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly brokenaway, of a lifting jack provided with one form of the invention, thefront cover plate having been removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail viewenlarged, of the lifting pawl and its spring bearing arm. Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line III. III. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view on the broken line A, A, B of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailview of the upper portion of the case showing the adjusting mechanismfor the locking pawl. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail view on theline VI. VI.

of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a partial side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showingamodified construction embodying two lifting pawls. Fig. 8 is a similarview showing a further modified construction in which the pawls engagethe ratchet teeth of the raising and lowering bar. Fig. 9 is adiagrammatic view indicating the operation. Fig. 10 is a detail viewsimilar to Figs. 1 and 7 showing a further modified construction. Fig.11 is a cross sectional detail view on the line XI. XI. of Fig. 10,assuming the lever to be raised to the position shown in dotted lines.Fig. 12 is a detail view of the semi-rotatable pivoted shifting devicefor reversing the operation.

In the figures of Sheet 1 of the drawings, I have shown one applicationof the invention to an ordinary lifting jack of the rack and piniontype. In such construction 1 is the main frame of the jack having asuitable supporting base and embodying in its upper portion a housingfor the reception of the movable jack bar or standard 2 arranged forvertical movement therein and for the pinion 3 and its shaft 5 engagingteeth 6 of bar 2, shaft 5 having secured upon it by a key or othersuitable means, the ratchet wheel 4, mounted within the housing frame 1,which is suitably designed to receive it.

Pinion shaft 5 is mounted in suitable bearings 7 and S at opposite sidesof the housing frame, bar 2 also being mounted within a verticalreceiving slide-way therein, the housing frame being preferably )rovidedwith removable front and back plates for access to its interior.

9 is the operating lover of the jack, pivotally mounted on shaft 9 inthe housing, adapted to be actuated upwardly and down wardly in themanner of jacks of this type, by an extended handle.

10 is the lifting pawl mounted by pivoting pin 10 in an extension of thelever 9 inwardly beyond its pivotal mounting 9 as shown, the function ofwhich pawl is to retate the ratchet wheel 4 in one direction when lever9 is lowered and pawl 10 raised, to raise bar 2, and also to lower thebar 2 by supporting engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchetwheel in its reverse travel, by lowering movement of the pawl.

11 is the holding pawl, pivotally mounted upon its bearing 11 in thehousing wall, the function of which pawl is to lock the ratchet wheel 4and hold it against the weight on bar 2, during the time when pawl 10 isbeing adjusted for the next operation, the ratchet wheel remainingstationary.

The invention provides means connecting pawls 10 and 11 whereby eachpawl will be automatically thrown outwardly from engagement upon theparticular ratchet tooth, when the other pawl has been inserted,dependent upon the operation of pawl 10 and its effect on theintervening yielding controlling connections between the pawls. Toaccomplish this operation, I employ a rod 12 pivotally attached to pawl11 by an adjustable pin or stud 13 engaging an annular slot 19, in whichslot the adjustable stud, constituting a pivotal connection with rod 12,may be adjustably set, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, tooperate at one side or the other of the pivotal center 11, or forreversing the operation. Stud 13 is provided at its outer end with athumb screw terminal 22 extending outwardly for convenience in reversingthe action of the pawl mechanism through a slot 21 in the cover plate,correspending in position to the slot 19 of pawl 11. The cover plateslot 21 is sufficiently wide to allow the thumb screw clamp 22, whichholds the stud 13 in position, to pass freely through it and playloosely therein, so that the direction of motion of the jack may bereadily controlled by quickly loosening the thumb screw, shifting stud13 to the position shown in dotted lines indicated at 13, where it issecured in place in the other end of slot 19.

For the purpose of imparting shifting motion to pawl 11 in eitherposition, 'i. 6., for raising or lowering, I have utilized springmechanism combined with rod 12 and pawl 10 whereby upward or forwardmovement will be imparted through said shaft by corresponding movementof pawl 10, acting through interposed springs. For such purpose pawl 10is provided with a laterally ex tending arm 10 carrying in its outerterminal stud 14, provided with a transverse opening 14, annularlyflared at each side by coniform clearance openings, so that it willfreely pass along rod 12 in either direction, while surrounding stem 14has a freely mounted sleeve 14".

The rod 12 carries two adjustable collars 15, 16, and interposed betweenthese collars and the sleeve 14 are springs 17, 18, which provideyielding connections between said collars and rod 12 for desired motionof pawl 11.

The operation of the above described construction is as follows: Withthe parts arranged in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, forlowering of standard 2 and a super posed weight, and with the operatinglever 9 in the lowermost position and pawl 10 engaging the ratchet teethof wheel 4, pawl arm 10 has exerted, through spring 17 and rod 12,lifting action to pawl 11 so that as the wheel 4 is eased upwardly, pawl11 will be released and thrown to the raised position shown. Uponlowering the tooth engaged by pawl 10, causing reverse rotation ofratchet wheel 4 and resulting lowering of standard 2 by downward travelof pawl 10 upon raising lever 9 to the position shown in dotted lines,the point of the tooth adjacent to the point of pawl 11 is drawnforwardly underneath it. As arm 10 passes down with pawl 10, it releasesspring 17 and comes into contact with upper end of lower spring 18,compressing it, and exerting a downward pull through rod 12, throwingpawl 11 downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines, so that itwill engage the next advancing ratchet tooth, arresting the wheel. Astill further travel of pawl 10 downwardly advances it at thetermination of the stroke of lever 9, releasing said pawl fromengagement with its ratchet tooth, whereupon resiliency of spring 18acting through arm 10 will throw pawl 10 outwardly from engagement withits tooth and backwardly free therefrom, under the expansive action ofthe compressed spring 18. Reverse mot-ion of lever 9 will now carry pawl10 upwardly past its released tooth until arm 10 again comes intocontact with lower end of expanded spring 17, whereupon pawl 10 will bethrown inwardly to engage the next tooth and will impart a slightlifting action to the ratchet wheel, whereupon the upward thrust of rod12, due to the expansive action of spring 17 acting on collar 15, willagain thrust pawl 11 upwardly as described, and the operation is againrepeated. When it is desired to actuate ratchet wheel 4 in the oppositedirection to lift standard 2, stud 13 of pawl 11 is shifted along to theother end of slot 19, locating it beyond the pivotal center 11 at theother side from the dead center line so that its operation and that ofrod 12 on pawl 11 will be reversed. Such shifting action brings the stud13 somewhat closer to stem 14, thereby increasing the compression ofspring 17 and relieving spring 18. The compression of spring 17 now actsto hold both p awls into engagement with the ratchet wheel so that eachwill slip into engagement behind the next adjacent tooth automaticallyas wheel 4 is rotated to raise standard 2. Operation of lever 9 willtherefore act to raise the adjacent side of ratchet wheel 4, each liftcausing a successive locking engagement of pawl 11 so that the wheelwill be held against reverse rotation until the next hold is taken bypawl 10, the operation continuing as long as desired.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified construction of the pawl mechanismapplied to a lifting acl: similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 4, butwherein two lifting pawls are employed to providefor double action ineither direction, capable of either lifting or lowering ward movement tothe standard.

on both the u and down stroke. In order to obtain sue results with myimproved mechanism, it is only necessary to add a second lifting pawl 24pivoted at 25 on operating lever 9, shown at its highest position. Thissecond lifting pawl 24 is connected with the holding pawl 11, arrangedas described in Fig. 1, by a second yielding connection consisting ofthe rod 26 mounted within the slotted tube 27 having surroundingcompression springs 28 and 29. The upper end of rod 26 may be pivoteddirectly on stud 13 or it may be conveniently pivoted, as shown, at 30on a short arm extension 12 of rod 12. The tube 27 is pivoted to anextension 2don pawl 24 and is slotted intermediate of its ends forclearance of a transverse pin 31 extending through red 26 and said slotat each side, extending beyond the peripheral surface of tube 27 toengage the inner end of spring 28 and 29 respectively. The alternativeaction of springs 28 and 29 on pawls 2 1 and 11, is the same as that ofsprings 17 and 18 on pawls 10 and 11. Thus as shown in Fig. 7 the stud13 is set on pawl 11 in position for forward motion of ratchet wheel P,for lifting plunger2. As the operating lever 9 is depressed the pawl 10rises, partially rotating wheel 1 and imparting up- At the terminationof the stroke pawl 24 will have dropped to a position suitable forengage ment with one of the ratchet wheel teeth as the lever is liftedagain, which pawl in turn advances the wheel in the same direction asbefore, so that it will thus be seen that each pawl operatesalternatively, resulting in a practically continuous rotation of theratchet wheel, with both up and down movement of the operating lever.For the purpose of re versing the operation to lower, stud 13 is shiftedto the other end of annular slot19, as in Fig. 1, and the automaticmovement of the pawls 10 and 11 is secured and controlled exactly in thesame manner as described, through the operation of springs 17 and 18 Thecontrol of the third pawl 24 is effected in the same way by thealternate compression of the springs 29 and 28. Thus when the lever 9 isnear the top of its stroke, and the stud 13 a is in the loweringposition at end of slot 19 to the left side of fulcrum of pawl 11*, thecompression of spring 29 throws the pawl 24 into engagement with theteeth of ratchet wheel 4, while the compression of spring 18 throws thepawl 10 out of engagement therewith. A further slight upward movement ofthe lever releases the thrust on the holding pawl 11 and the compressionof spring 29 re-acting against the fixed engagement of pawl 24 liftspawl 11 above the teeth of ratchet wheel 1 and allows the latter to movebackwardly as the lever 9 is lowered. As the lowering motion proceedsspring 17 a is first compressed,

bringing pawl 10 into position for engagement with the next tooth. henthis engagement occurs the backward movement of ratchet wheel 4. isarrested and the thrust on pawl 24 is released. In the meantime thedownward movement of lever 9 and pawl 2-1 has com n'essed spring 28which acts, as soon as paw 24 is relieved of )ressure, to lift thelatter away from the rate iet tooth with which it was in engagement.Simultaneously the compression of spring 17 (which had acted to forcepawl 10 into engagement with the ratchet teeth) re-acts after such fixedengagement to again lift pawl 11 and allow the ratchet wheel 4 to moveback- -wardly another interval, following the pawl 10 as operating leveris lifted to its first position, when the operation above described isre )eated.

fn Fig. 8 I show an application of my improved pawl mechanism to aratchet bar jack of the type in which the lifting pawl and holding pawlact directly on the vertically movable standard 2*. In such constructionthe lifting pawl 10 may be conveniently mounted directly on an eccentric3% turned on the fulcrum shaft 35 of the operating lever 9 This liftingpawl 10 is provided as before described with a projecting arm 10carrying a stud 14 similar to the stud construction shown in Figs. 2 and3', through which slides the rod 12 pivoted in the movable stud 13 Saidstud 13 is slidingly mounted in an inclined transverse slot 19 of aremovable cap 33 mounted upon the outer portion of the pivotal terminalof holding pawl 11, as clearly shown. Springs 17 and 18 are adjusted asdescribed to bear against either side of the thimble surrounding thestud 14 and to bear at their opposite ends against collars 15 and 16being arranged and adapted to operate in the same manner generally ashas been already described, forming the yielding and alternately actingflexible connections between the upper and lower pawls. ith the stud 15set to the left side of slot 19 and beyond the pivotal center of pawl 11 as shown, the mechanism is adapted for lowering operation of standard2 as the lever 9 is raised. Upon throwing stud 13 to the right side ofslot 19 and to the other side of pivotal center of pawl 11", anddownwardly along the said inclined slot, thereby COlllPlfESSlIlg spring17 the mechanism is ada )ted for u iward or liftin travel of thestandard 2 as the operating lever is depressed. In such construction thelifting pawl may be readily secured in the offset eccentric portion offulcrum shaft 35 or removed therefrom by mcans of a separate cap 34 andscrews 37 and 38.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a further modified construction in which thereversing mechanism is mounted in the raising and lowering lever itselfinstead of in the locking pawl.

&

Operating lever 9 is mounted in the case by its fulcrum 9 and its innerweight-lifting or lowering terminal is provided with a fixed pivotingstud 39 for pawl 10 upon the outer end of which stud is sleeved athiinble 40 adapted to be rotated one half revolution to reverse theoperation of the pawls. Thimble 40 is provided with a key housing 41 anda key 42 therein adapted to be inserted by its inner end in a suitablereceiving socket in the outer end of stud 39, to hold the thimble and apivoting extension 43 thereof, in either position; as shown in full anddotted lines respectively, Fig. 10. 12 is the lifting stem for lockingpawl 11", pivoted to said extension 43 as shown and extending upwardlythrough a stud 19 of pawl 11 with an encircling compression spring 17 0located between said stud and a collar 15 fixed to the stem. 15 is atension spring, secured at one end to the pawl 11 as shown at the sameside of its pivotal mounting as stud 19 and at its other end to collar15 or an extension thereof, as shown, and designed to draw the pawl intoengagement with the tooth of the ratchet wheel 4.

The operation of such construction is similar to that of the single pawlconstruction of Fig. 1. Assuming the standard of the jack to be loweredand the locking pawl 11 and operating pawl 10 in engagement as shown,with the stem 12 thrust upwardly and spring 17 compressed against stud19, a slight further raise of pawl 10, due to corresponding loweringaction of lever 9", will cause holding pawl 11 c to be released, due tothe intermittent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel, and to be thrustupwardly, as indicated in dotted lines. Raising of lever 9 to theuppermost position, as shown in dotted lines, resulting in lowering ofpawl 10", will correspondingly lower the engaged face of the ratchetwheel and also of stem 12 drawing downwardly with it lower end oftension spring 18 thereby again throwing pawl 11 downwardly forengagement of the next oil-coming tooth. Upon said tooth being arrestedby the holding pawl, a further slight downward travel of pawl 10 willcause its release from the engaged tooth, due to the tension of spring18 upwardly on stem 12", tending to throw the pivoting bearing arm 43around in a direction to disengage the point of the pawl from the tooth.The pawl 10 will be so held until upon again reversing the lever toraise, the tension of spring 18 will be overcome and spring 17 againcompressed, reversing the pressure on bearing 43 and again throwing thepoint of the pawl into engagement with the next adjacent tooth, to theposition at the commencement of the operation just described which maythen be repeated. hen it is desired to reverse the operation to lift thejack standard, key 42 is withdrawn and bearing 43 thrown half way aroundto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, the key and itshousing assuming the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12. Thedistance between stud 19 and bearing 43 is thereby increased, as in theformer constructions, thereby releasing compressive pressure on spring17 and extending spring 18 so that it is constantly under tension andwill normally hold the locking pawl 11 in engaging relation to theratchet teeth as they pass successively underneath and away from thelocking pawl. Likewise, the reversal of bearing 43 and the constantnormal tension of spring 18 will constantly exert an inward thrust onlifting pawl 10 so that it will normally engage each successive ratchettooth for lifting. The operation will be readily understood, eachdownward motion of lever 9 thrusting the ratchet wheel periphery engagedupwardly, locking pawl 11 0 taking a new hold, whereupon lifting pawl 100 may be likewise given a new hold by raising the lever, the operationbeing continued as long as desired.

In all of the constructions shown, it will be observed that theoperation of the pawls, t.c., lifting or lowering pawl and locking pawlare dependent upon each other by reason of the resilient interveningspring connections, and that reversal of the conditions from tension tocompression, or vice versa, will reverse the relative operations of thepawls as de sired. Also that the operation of one or more of the springsis resultant from the lengthening or shortening of the distance betweenthe point of connection on the locking pawl and the connection with theoperating mechanism.

It will be obvious that the principle of the invention may be variouslyapplied to different mechanisms to suit particular conditions orconstructions, and that different arrangements or changes may be made bythe skilled mechanic to utilize the invention, either in its applicationto the class of jacks or to any other mechanism in which it may beemployed; or that other changes or modifications may be made in the formor arrangement of the yielding connections or in other details of theinvention, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scopeof the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In automatic pawl mechanism, a holding pawl, alifting pawl, a longitudinally yielding connection between the two, andmeans for actuating the lifting pawl.

2. In automatic pawl mechanism, a holding pawl, a lifting pawl,interposed yielding connecting mechanism, means for varying the distancebetween the points of attachment of said mechanism with the pawls, andmeans for actuating the lifting pawl.

8. In automatic pawl mechanism, a holdone of said pawls to change itsaction on the ing pawl, a lifting pawl, a yielding connection 1 betweensaid pawls arranged to act alternately in compression and in tensiondependent on the movement of the lifting pawl, and means for actuatingthe lifting pawl.

4. In automatic pawl mechanism, a hold ing pawl, a lifting pawl, ayielding connection between said pawls arranged to act alternately incompression and in tension dependent on the movement of the liftingpawl, means for shifting the point of adjustment of the said connectionon one of said pawls, and means for actuating the lifting pawl.

5. In automatic pawl mechanism, a holding pawl, a lifting pawl, ayielding connection between said pawls arranged to act alternately incompression and in tension dependent on the movement of the liftingpawl, a connecting rod ivotally attached to one pawl and sliding ooselythrough the connection to the other pawl, springs interposed between thesliding connection and fixed points of the link, and means for actuatingthe lifting pawl, substantially as described.

6. In automatic pawl mechanism, a holding pawl, a lifting pawl,interposed yielding connecting mechanism, means for shifting theconnection of said mechanism with one of said pawls to vary the actionon said pawl, and means for actuating the lifting pawl.

7. In automatic pawl mechanism, a pivoted holding pawl, an actuatingelement having a pivoted lifting pawl, interposed yielding connectingmeans embodying spring mechanism, and means for shifting the con nectionof said means with one of the pawls from one side of its pivot to theother, substantially as described.

8. In automatic pawl mechanism, a'pivoted holding pawl, an actuatingelement having a pivoted lifting pawl, interposed yielding connectingmeans embodying spring mechanism, and means for varying the relativeposition of the connecting means as to other awl, substantially asdescribed. 11 automatic pawl mechanism, a pivoted holding pawl, anactuating element having a pivoted lifting pawl provided with an arm,yielding connecting mechanism attached to the holding pawl and engagingsaid arm, and spring devices incorporated with the connecting mechanism,substantially as described.

10. In automatic pawl mechanism, a pivoted holding pawl, an actuatingelement having a pivoted lifting pawl provided with an arm, yieldingconnecting mechanism attached to the holding pawl and engaging said arm,spring devices incorporated with the connecting mechanism, and means forshifting the oint of attachment of the connecting mec ianism with theholding pawl, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a ratchet toothed element, of a holding pawl,an actuating element having a lifting pawl, and longitudinally yieldingconnecting mechanism interposed between the holding pawl and the liftingpawl, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a ratchet toothed element, of a holding pawl,an actuating element having a lifting pawl, yielding connectingmechanism interposed between the holding pawl and the lifting pawl, andmeans for shifting the position of attachment of said connectingmechanism on one of said pawls, substantially as described.

13. In automatic pawl mechanism, a holding pawl, a lifting pawl,yielding connecting mechanism between the pawls arran ed to draw theholding pawl toward the difting pawl when said pawl is moving away fromthe holding pawl, and to thrust the holding pawl in the oppositedirection when the lifting pawl is moving toward it, and means foractuating the lifting pawl.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. O. lVADSWORTI-I.

Witnesses:

R. M. PAsETTI, O. M. CLARKE.

